In 2013 Google revolutionized the way to consume streaming content with its Chromecast, the best device the company has invented to date.
Thanks to a Chromecast device and its Google Cast technology, we can stream entertainment content on our TV in a simple way using our mobile or tablet as a remote control.
Google currently sells three Chromecast devices. We have Chromecast 2015, Chromecast Audio, and the new Chromecast Ultra for 4K and HDR content. But this is not all; a variety of manufacturers also sell televisors and audio equipment with integrated Chromecast.
If we choose the cheapest option -acquiring one of the Chromecast that Google sells- in a few minutes, we will be sending content to our TV or stereo. You have to follow the next steps.
Connect your Chromecast to your TV
The first thing we have to do is connect the Chromecast to the HDMI of our TV and its USB port or the power outlet. Once connected to the power supply, the device will turn on automatically. Switch the TV’s input to the HDMI source that is connected to the Chromecast to see the “Set me up” screen.
Download Google Home
There you will see how you will have to download the Google Home application to proceed with the configuration of your Chromecast device. Once installed, you will have to activate the location permissions when asked. If you do not enable it, you will not be able to detect your nearby devices.
There you will see how you will have to download the Google Home application to proceed with the configuration of your Chromecast device. Once installed, you will have to activate the location permissions when asked. If you do not enable it, you will not be able to detect your nearby devices.
In the welcome wizard, you can activate notifications by email to receive the latest Chromecast news, such as tips, tricks, offers, applications, new features, and more information.
Set up the Chromecast
Once the welcome assistant has been passed, the application will detect that there is a new Chromecast device in your home. If the warning does not appear on the main screen, we can see it from the Devices icon that appears in the upper right part of the application.
By clicking on Configure, we will access a new assistant that will configure the device in a few seconds. The first thing that the application will do is disconnect us from our Wi-Fi network to connect to the Wi-Fi of our Chromecast temporarily.
When our mobile is connected to the Chromecast, it will ask us if the code of the application matches the one shown on the TV. If so, we have to confirm, yes. If the code does not appear, we say no and click on the option to try again after checking that the Chromecast is well connected.
After confirming the code, the next step will be to assign a name to our Chromecast and connect it to the Wi-Fi network of our house. The default application will show the Wi-Fi network to which our mobile is connected so that everything is more comfortable. In case it is another network, we can select it from the application.
Once connected to our Wi-Fi network, we can start sending videos, series, movies, music and more entertainment content to our TV with Chromecast through the wide variety of compatible applications that we will find in the Discover section of Google Home, such as Netflix applications, YouTube, HBO, Google Play Movies, Google Play Music and many more. You will only have to click on the Cast button that will appear incompatible with applications.
Device configuration
From the Google Home> Devices app, you can configure your Chromecast. You can:
- Rename
- Change the Wi-Fi connection
- Change the wallpaper
- Set the guest mode
- Change the language
- Access the advance program
- Use HDMI mode at 50 Hz
- Adjust the time
Customize the wallpaper
The Chromecast from Google allows us to put as wallpaper any photo album you have in Google Photos, Facebook, or Flickr. We can also see the news that our Newsstand sources or see photos of art, outstanding images, or the land and space selected by Google.
The wallpapers are set up from Google Home> Device Settings> Wallpaper. There also I can change the speed with which the photos are changing automatically and in what temperature scale we want to see the weather information.
Guest mode
From the configuration of the device, we can also deactivate or activate the guest mode. This mode allows our guests to connect to our Chromecast without having to be connected to our Wi-Fi network.
Advance program
If we want to be the first to receive news and the latest features of Chromecast, we can activate the advanced program. Our Chromecast will always be updated with the next version of its firmware, and in our mail, we will receive the list of improvements and news before they reach the whole world.
Remote control notifications
Finally, from Google Settings> Google Cast, we can deactivate the * remote control notifications ** that will appear on our mobile device every time someone from our house is sending content to a Chromecast. If we do not want to see this type of notifications, we can deactivate them from there.
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